Dextromethorphan - Market Share Analysis, Industry Trends & Statistics, Growth Forecasts 2019 - 2029

Key Highlights

• The outbreak of the pandemic significantly impacted the dextromethorphan market. The pandemic increased the rate of self-medication across the globe, which increased the intake rate of dextromethorphan. For instance, according to the research study published by MDPI in August 2022, Italy witnessed a rate of 69.2% for self-medication among the population during the pandemic. The same source also stated that the main factor for the increase in the self-medication rate during COVID-19 was the anxiety among people regarding contracting the COVID-19 infection. In addition, the increased rate of cough and cold among people during the pandemic also surged the demand for dextromethorphan.
• For instance, according to the NCBI study published in December 2021, around 70.0% of people with symptomatic COVID-19 developed cough and cold. The same source also stated that COVID-19 typically produced dry cough; thus, in such cases, over-the-counter antitussives (cough suppressants) like dextromethorphan were effective in treating non-productive or dry coughs by controlling the cough reflex. Thus, the market witnessed notable growth during the pandemic; however, as per the analysis, the market will observe stable growth due to increased patient awareness and the growing adoption of self-medication.
• The shift towards self-medication among people and the rise in the prevalence of coughs and colds across the globe are the major driving factors for the market. For instance, according to the NCBI study published in June 2022, the overall rate of self-medication was 44.9% among the global population.
• Medicines reported by the study for self-medication were antibiotics (79%), vitamins (64%), antimalarials (50%), herbal and natural products (50%), analgesics and antipyretics (43%), minerals and dietary supplements (43%), cold and allergy products (29%), corticosteroids (14%) and antivirals (7%). Dextromethorphan is a common and widely used drug to relieve cough caused by the common cold, the flu, or other conditions. In addition, dextromethorphan is a safe and effective ingredient in over 100 over-the-counter (OTC) cough and cold medicines. Thus, an increasing shift towards self-medication and the wide availability of dextromethorphan as OTC drugs are expected to impact the market growth over the forecast period positively.
• The increasing prevalence of cough and cold within the global population and the surge in the number of product launches by key players are also propelling market growth. For instance, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates published in January 2023, seasonal influenza leads to an estimated 650,000 deaths worldwide each year. The same source also stated that around 9.0 million annual flu cases were reported in the United States in 2021. Dextromethorphan is widely used to relieve coughs due to colds or influenza (flu) and relieves cough by acting directly on the brain.
• Thus, increasing flu cough & cold cases are anticipated to increase the demand for dextromethorphan, thereby surging the market growth. In addition, the launch of dextromethorphan-based drugs is also expected to boost the market expansion. For instance, in September 2021, in India, Sun Pharmaceutical Industries launched a novel formulation in cough management, Chericof 12 (dextromethorphan hydrobromide 30 mg and chlorpheniramine maleate 4 mg). Chericof 12, the first prescription cough syrup in India, gives relief for up to 12 hours and is manufactured using Polistirex technology for sustained drug release. Thus, such instances indicate that considerable market growth is anticipated over the forecast period.
• However, side effects associated with dextromethorphan drugs and medications are expected to restrain the market growth over the forecast period.

Dextromethorphan Market Trends

Tablets Segment is Expected to Witness Healthy Growth Over the Forecast Period

• Dextromethorphan temporarily relieves cough caused by the common cold, the flu, or other conditions such as depressive conditions. Dextromethorphan gives relief from the cough but will not treat the cause of the cough and does not offer speedy recovery. Dextromethorphan belongs to the antitussives class of medication. It works by decreasing activity in the part of the brain that causes coughing.
• The increasing cases of common cold, flu, and depressive disorders across the globe are the key factors propelling the segment's growth over the forecast period. For instance, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report published in April 2023, influenza was associated with 9.0 million illnesses, 4.0 million medical visits, and 10,000 hospitalizations in the United States in 2022.
• The same source also stated that flu affects around 8.0% of the United States population annually, and the cumulative hospitalization rate for the 2021 flu season was 0.8 per 100,000 people, while the previous year's flu season saw a hospitalization rate of 66.2 per 100,000 people. Thus, increasing cases of flu across the globe are anticipated to propel the demand for Dextromethorphan, thereby boosting segment growth.
• In addition, product launches and approvals are also anticipated to augment the segment growth. For instance, in October 2022, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Auvelity (dextromethorphan HBr-bupropion HCl) extended-release tablets, based on efficacy and safety data from the phase 3 GEMINI and phase 2 ASCEND trials and are now available for the treatment of adults with major depressive disorder (MDD). Thus, owing to increasing cases of flu and product approvals, significant segment growth is expected over the forecast period.

North America is Expected to Witness Considerable Growth Over the Forecast Period

• North America is expected to witness growth over the forecast period. This growth is attributed to several factors, such as the rising cases of flu, a surge in the geriatric population that is more susceptible to medical conditions, and an increasing shift towards self-medication. For instance, according to the report published by the Government of Canada in June 2023, during the 2022 influenza season, 16,126 laboratory-confirmed influenza detections were reported out of 751,900 total laboratory tests.
• Similarly, according to the report published by the New Mexico Department of Health in October 2022, New Mexico influenza-like illness (ILI) activity was around 3.4% of patient visits statewide. Thus, such a high number of influenza patients across the region is expected to increase the demand for dextromethorphan as it is highly effective in managing symptoms of influenza, thereby boosting market growth in this region.
• The increasing cases of the common cold in the United States and the high incidence of flu among the geriatric population in the United States are the major growth drivers for the market in the country. For instance, according to the report published by the American Lung Association in March 2023, adults get an average of two to four colds per year, mainly between September and May, and young children suffer from an average of six to eight colds per year.
• Furthermore, Standford University is currently conducting an open-label crossover pilot study to assess the efficacy and tolerability of dextromethorphan for symptom relief in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and related disorders in combination with fluoxetine. As of July 2023, the trial was in Phase 2. Thus, owing to a surge in the cases of cold and flu, along with growing research and extending applications of dextromethorphan in other disorders, considerable market growth is anticipated in the North American region over the forecast period.

Dextromethorphan Industry Overview

Additional Benefits:

• The market estimate (ME) sheet in Excel format
• 3 months of analyst support